In The annual meeting, one of the Elder's (Dave Tinker) gave a presentation to the Body concerning Pastor Cope. The following is his notes for that speech.
- Call
the congregation to rise in prayer, celebration and honor for Pastor
George and Cheryl's service to the body.
- will
provide flowers for Cheryl
- invite
all elders, pastors and their wives to come forward
- Recount
some of the highlights from Pastor's resignation letter to solidify the
statement
- As
Pastor George so beautifully articulated we as a leadership body have
been in discussion and prayer for quite some time regarding this
transition. I'm certain that deep down inside we all knew it was coming,
however, we have patiently waited for God to provide very specific
instruction and direction. At this time I can stand before you and
recount that God is faithful and I can confidently declare that He has in
fact provided the instruction and direction that we have awaited.
- Pastor
George arrived at Calvary several years before me and my family and
though I did not personally hear him declare that we would change the
culture of Calvary I have had a front row seat to seeing his faith in
action, and so have you all. Though change is not always easy sometimes
it i necessary. If Israel had settled and become comfortable in the
wilderness they would have never attained God's promise. God moves when
He chooses to move and we must be faithful to follow.
- As
I look back over the last several years I can see that we have been going
through a deconstruction of sorts. Sometimes its hard to see it when
you're in the middle of it all, but I can attest that in my own life God
has always been faithful to allow me at some point to turn around and
catch a glimpse of why I had to travel a certain road. I believe the same
is true for Calvary. To that, Pastor George spoke of our foundation,
Jesus is, has always been, and will always be our cornerstone. Through
the years there have been lots of storms that many of you sitting here
today can attest to. These storms have rocked us a bit, they have left us
broken from time to time, however, God's word has held true, with Jesus
as our cornerstone we have not fallen, we have not been defeated. I'm
here to tell you that the foundation is solid and it is time to rebuild,
God has big plans for Calvary. We are on the precipice of awesome and we
are living in the day when we will begin to see the prophecies that have
been spoken over us for so many years start coming to life.
- So
where do we go from here?
- Early
in this transition journey we realized that we were going to need some
help if we were going to do it right. Now, I'm a skateboarder, Frank
builds missiles, Mr George can tell you if the missile will fly before
you launch it, Doug can build the launcher, Mr Jim can sell you a car to
get you to the launch site and Mr Wray can sell you the parts you'll need
if Mr Jim's car breaks down along the way. Again, we really needed some
help, so knowing this we started to pray and seek the Lord for direction
and assistance. And wouldn't you know it, God answered our prayer in a
big way.
- Next
week you are going to meet the man that God has sent our way. As we began
to seek help Pastor George started reaching out to his wealth of contacts
and through that God delivered us Dr. Bob Rhoden.
- Dr
Bob, as he is affectionately known to us, is not only a scholar but he
is a very experienced pastor and pastor's pastor, but more than that he
is an absolute God given answer to prayer for us.
- He
has earned several Bachelors Degrees in Philosophy, Religion and Bible
- A
Masters Degree in New Testament Studies
- And
he also has earned a Doctorate of Ministry
- He
is a Florida native and currently resides in Virginia
- At
the onset of his ministry he served 2 years as an associate with David
Wilkerson in New York
- He
has been the assistant pastor for First Assembly of God in Lancaster,
Pennsylvania
- He
has served as the youth pastor and interim pastor for the First Assembly
of God in Wheaton, Illinois
- He
and his wife planted the West End Assembly of God in Richmond, Virginia
- This
congregation experienced continuous growth as well as mothered 5 other
churches in the Richmond area and 18 churches in other countries.
- He
is a published author and is currently the Presbyter for the Northeast
Region of the General Council of the Assemblies of God.
- Dr
Bob and his wife Joan have 3 grown children and 8 grandchildren.
- All
this to say, he is a very well rounded leader, but more than that he is
both wise and humble.
- Dr
Bob has not been brought in to be the next pastor, matter of fact, at the
onset of our meetings he has made it very clear that this is not his
role. Over the last few years he has led several other churches through
successful transitions and through this he has developed a transition
implementation strategy to successfully lead others through the same.
- He
will be joining us at the beginning of May to begin the process of
building the framework that will put us on the path to finding our next
senior pastor.
- So
again, you don't want to miss next week, Dr Bob will be here to address
the congregation and its going to be great.
- This
leads me lastly to our core values, these are the steel of who we are,
these are the unchangeables. While the look, feel and sounds of Calvary
will change through the years, these will not change.
- Today
you were given a copy of our mission, vision and values and I would like
to walk through these values with you.
- Prayer –
We acknowledge our total dependence upon God and that we must
continually seek Him through prayer.
- 1.
(2 Chronicles 7:14) God tells Solomon: If my people who are called by
my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from
their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive sin
and will heal their land.
- 1B.
(Matthew 21:13) Jesus said: My house will be called a house of prayer
- I
encourage you to establish a lifestyle of private prayer but also to
get connected to one of the several corporate prayer times that we have
available.
- The
Word – We embrace the infallible Word of God as the ultimate
standard and guide for living a holy life and challenge every believer
to model a life of integrity, being fully accountable to the Word, to
God, and to each other.
- 2.
(2 Timothy 3: 16-17) Paul tells Timothy: All scripture is God-breathed
and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in
righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for
every good work.
- 2B.
(John 17:17) Jesus prayed: Sanctify them by the truth; your word is
truth.
- I
implore you to establish a lifestyle of filling yourself with the Word,
this is how we learn to discern the voice of God.
- Worship –
We recognize that worship must be a lifestyle, not only a once-a-week
activity.
- 3.
(Romans 12: 1-2) Paul says: Therefore, I urge you brothers, in view of
God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing
to God - this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any
longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing
of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will
is - his good, pleasing and perfect will.
- 3B.
(Psalm 103) David says: Praise the Lord, O my soul, all my inmost
being, praise his holy name.
- There
is a song written by Sarah Kelly titled Living Hallelujah. In this song
she writes: “more than words I bring to you, may all I say and my all I
do be Hallelujah.”
- The
word Hallelujah means: glory to God in the highest. With that, I invite
you to give yourself fully over to worship, live a lifestyle of living
Hallelujah.
- Holy
Spirit Empowerment – We believe that God’s gift to every believer
is spiritual empowerment for the purpose of becoming a witness and
living a victorious Christian life.
- 4.
(Acts 1:8) Jesus said: But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit
comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all
Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.
- I
encourage you to seek after the Holy Spirit and what he has for you.
Jesus promised the gift, seek after it.
- Lost
People – We are passionate about bringing people into a
life-changing relationship with Jesus Christ.
- 5.
(Matthew 28:19) Jesus said: Therefore go and make disciples of all
nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of
the Holy Spirit.
- I
beg you to GO, sitting here in this room is not what we were called to
do.
- Relationships –
We encourage people to cultivate healthy relationships, extending
authentic love, acceptance, and forgiveness.
- 6.
(1 Corinthians 13) Paul says: Love never fails, then he goes on to say,
these three remain: faith, hope and Love. But the greatest of these is
love.
- Small
groups is where its at, get plugged in. If you're not in a small group
you are really missing out.
- Maybe
small groups is a good starting point for your lost friends. Sometimes
church is intimidating, this building may be very intimidating.
- Equipping
Believers – We desire to develop people to their fullest potential
so that they can become leaders in their circle of influence.
- 7.
(Ephesians 4: 11 – 16) Paul says: It was he (Jesus) who gave some to be
apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be
pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so
that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the
faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature,
attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will
no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown
here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning craftiness
of me in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love,
we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is,
Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every
supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part
does its work.
- We
all have growing to do, we all have maturing to do, we should always be
striving for unity and building each other up in love. We all have a
work to which we have individually been called, I invite everyone to
get involved, to get to work.
- Good
Stewards – We are committed to being wise stewards of our time,
talents, and resources.
- 8.
(Matthew 25:21) Jesus said: His master replied, well done good and
faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put
you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness.
- We
all play a role in stewardship: through tithing, through service and through
hospitality.
·
Closing Thought
o
Finally I would say to you, today is important
but tomorrow is critical. Let’s not be satisfied with just going to church any
longer. Let’s BE the church.
